You enter the June Lake Loop from the 395
just south of Lee Vining or about 12 miles south at the southern
entrance. I prefer entering at the southern entrance and looping around
and coming out on 395 in the north. The loop leads you past (in this
order) June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake, and Grant
Lake. In the winter these lakes are frozen over. In the summer they are
a wonderful attraction for fishing, boating, and swimming.
When you first get a glimpse of June Lake from the southern part of the
loop you will see a wooden vista tower on your right side. You too can
carve your initials in the wood like hundreds before you. I recommend
stopping and climbing up this little vista structure. You will have
great views of the entire June Lake Basin and the towering mountains
that surround it.
June Lake is a much more relaxed and smaller town then Mammoth Lakes.
When you are in June Lake check out a very nice wood carving gallery.
The name of the gallery is called The Tree Wizard Gallery and Gary Burns
is the "wiz"! Gary is a self taught carver and he can be found
daily working in his studio which is part of the gallery. The "wiz" says that
"each piece of wood has its own personality." He "strives
to flow with what each piece of wood has to offer, for the wood knows
best what it will be best made into." Gary's gallery is on the left
side of the street as you drive west through town. The gallery contains
a lot of wood elves and other wood
carvings. PHONE NUMBER 760.648.7642.
An absolutely beautiful place to stay just west of June Lake on the June
Lake loop is the Double Eagle Resort and Spa which had been open only 6
months or so at press time. This unique rustic resort offers quaint two
bedroom cabins against the edge of the towering mountains. They have
guest cabins, a trout pond, a Sports Center and indoor pool, a creek
flowing near the main office, and a wonderful restaurant. For pricing
and more information visit their web site at
http://www.doubleeagleresort.com .
You can also call them at PHONE NUMBER 760.648.7004.
A few miles from the June Lake loop is a road that leads to the west off
of the 395 called Glass Flow Road. This is a safe dirt road for cars in
the summer months. It leads through a undisturbed Jeffrey Pine forest to
the base of millions of large pieces of obsidian rocks stacked on one
another. It rises about a 100 feet and extends for many more than that.
This pile of obsidian rock is similar to the formation in Lassen National Park
near Cinder Cone. This is a great place to get away during the summer
and fall months. It is extremely quiet here and on a warm day it is an
ideal place to read a good book.
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Dave's Pick